by Bryce Evans
“Let me get some clothes on,” he said walking back into London’s office. She sat down with her head in her hands. No noise escaped her lips as she rocked herself back and forth, and Ryder knelt in front of her placing his hands on her legs. Her rocking didn’t stop as her anger surged forward. He could feel it as it surrounded her.
“London? We need to go. I can’t leave you alone—I won’t leave you alone. You will be safe with me, but my pack needs me now.” Ryder explained. He ran his fingers through her hair trying to calm her down. He needed her calm for what they were about to see. If it shook Jamie up then he knew what it was going to do to London and him.
London stopped rocking and looked up into Ryder’s eyes. He could see the anger and decision in her eyes. Her green eyes turned brighter as her anger vibrated around her.
“Let’s go. I need to see his body and call Me-Len. I read something in her journals about this happening in the past. She will know what it is. Can I call her to come to the scene?” London asked.
He didn’t know if she had heard what Jamie had said about Kenny’s body being carved up. If this wasn’t an animal killing his wolf, then it was something dark and evil. London was right when she said someone was on pack land and masking their smell. It cost him a member of his pack when they didn’t believe her.
“Yes, call her. Tell her to bring Meryl and the Coven.” Ryder kissed her forehead then stood up and started putting his clothes on. He couldn’t think properly right now. Too many questions needed to be answered. The biggest one was why he didn’t feel Kenny’s pain since he has a direct link to every one of his wolves. One of his pack mates had been killed and the feeling of not knowing what to do continued to grow in his chest.
Chapter 29
Ryder sat in the back with London as Jamie drove them to where Kenny’s body had been found. She was staring out the window when her phone vibrated. He knew she had called Me-Len and asked her to come to the scene. She read the text and showed him that it was from Donnie. He wanted to know where she was. He must have found out and it scared him since London left last night.
He placed his hand on her thigh as she texted him back telling him she was safe and with Ryder. When she was finished typing she picked his hand up and held it. He could feel his body relax a little as she snuggled closer to him. Right now he needed her comfort. He would need it a lot more once he got to Kenny’s body.
He could see the tension in his wolves as they pulled up at the gate. The guards had been doubled which was what he would have suggested, but he didn’t have to because Jamie had taken care of it.
Jamie drove past the road to his house but continued to travel toward the mountains. Ryder could feel London’s heart speed up. This was the area she said she had seen the woman on top of the mountain. Her eyes weren’t as good as a wolf’s, but she stood by her story that the woman threw some type of magic toward her. They had messed up by not believing her. Now one of his pack members was dead, and he didn’t know if he would be able to forgive himself.
Ryder could see fifteen of his Enforcers standing with their heads bowed as they looked at something on the ground. Jamie stopped the vehicle and Ryder got out and helped London out. The sight that greeted him was like nothing he had ever seen before. The rage that he felt was so powerful that every wolf in his pack started howling. Ryder dropped to his knees in front of the circle. His pain swept through him and into every pack member’s body. He couldn’t stop the change as his wolf demanded to come out. Ryder’s body shifted faster than anyone could see. His body transformed until his clothes shredded off of his wolf.
The wolves howled as their rage pierced the sky. He could hear more wolves in the distance as they howled for their lost pack mate. How could someone do this?
Ryder watched as Meryl and Me-Len pulled up. The look on Me-Len’s face said enough. London said that Me-Len thought that dark magic was being used. Me-Len walked toward Kenny Davis’ body. What was left of him lay in the circle. His body had been tortured and cut into pieces. They had placed different parts of his body into different spots inside the circle.
Ryder’s wolf was restless as he watched Me-Len walk around Kenny’s body. She took something out of her pocket and began to drop it around the circle. It was some type of liquid. Ryder stepped back as Me-Len continued to drop more of the liquid.
As soon as the substance hit the ground, London dropped to the ground. She grabbed her head in agony. Ryder could hear her heart beat faster as she tossed and turned on the ground. London’s scream clawed at his insides as he watched his mate begin to seize. Ryder immediately shifted back and went to London when Me-Len shouted at Ryder not to touch her.
* * * *
Opening her eyes, London could see everything that was happening as she floated in a cloud above the circle. Then time started flying by like it was rewinding a movie then it stopped as London watched Jim Sanders and Metilda Blackwood cut into Kenny Davis’ body. Metilda was chanting something as she cut into his skin. Each time she cut white smoke left his body and Metilda sucked the smoke into her mouth like inhaling cigarette smoke. She couldn’t understand what she was chanting but the pain Kenny was going through was obvious. They had tape over his mouth so nobody could hear his scream. Wolves surrounded them as Metilda continued to cut and inhale the smoke. She wanted to close her eyes to the evil act but she couldn’t. Her grandmother had performed the ritual so she could see what had happened and before she could continue to watch it was over.
London gasped as she took a deep breath. Her eyes opened to Me-Len sitting beside her.
“What happened?” London asked. She looked at her grandmother for an answer.
“Ryder brought you here when you passed out. You kept going in and out. I explained that it could be a while before you woke up. He wanted you at his house where it would be safe. Did you see who did that to Kenny?” Me-Len asked. London’s eyes teared up.
“Yes, it was Metilda Blackwood and Jim Sanders. They tortured him Me-Len. They tortured him.” London couldn’t hold it in any longer she broke down in sobs as Me-Len held her.
“It’s okay, baby girl. It’s okay.” London held onto her grandmother as she rocked her until she regained her composure. Her grandmother had been through wars where witches had did terrible things but this was unforgivable.
“I had to do the spell. You are the only one who could have seen it. You have the Tree of Life. Tell me what you saw.” Me-Len whispered into her hair as she held her until she stopped crying.
“Where is Ryder?”
“He had to go to Kenny’s house and tell his mate what happened. He wanted to stay to make sure you were okay but he knew someone would tell his family and he needed to be the one to do that. He said he would be late and for you to stay here. The coven has added more protection on the house. I don’t want you to relive what you saw, but I need to know what they did, London.”
“They had him tied down and his mouth was taped. Then they cut pieces off him, and she chanted something then white smoke left his body and she inhaled it. Each time she cut white smoke came out. She inhaled the white smoke as if it was a cigarette. Why, why…did they do that to him? He was in so much pain Me-Len.” London held on to her grandmother’s arm as she struggled to tell her what she had seen.
“She is taking his life force. He was an Enforcer for the pack. They need the wolf’s energy and power if they plan to take over the pack.”
“What? Taking over the pack? She can’t do that. No, no, no…Ryder is the Alpha. Nobody can come in and be the Alpha. It has to be a member of the Malone Pack. Zoey explained it to me. Me-Len don’t you know how Alpha City was founded?”
“London, if Ryder is dead and Jim Sanders becomes stronger, then he can take over as the Alpha. This will only be the beginning. They want this land for the Blackwood Coven. I have been sworn to secrecy but you need to know because without your help we won’t be able to fight them. They have a lot of power and if they can get to each Alpha and set their
plan in motion then they will get the land. Same old story, just a different time. You asked how I knew about Alpha City. Well I was here once when I was only eighteen. My coven was needed and this time it was a different coven of witches trying to take over. The group was small and thought they were more powerful than ours were but you see I wore the Tree of Life. It helped my coven and I defeated the witches and most of them were killed, very few escaped. One of the ones who escaped was Claudia Blackwood.”
London sighed. “What…now she has sent her daughter to Alpha City to start her plan into motion again. Does she think that by using dark magic she can win?” London asked. She rose up in the bed angry at how cruel these people could be. Now more than ever she needed to know how to use her magic. “This changes everything, doesn’t it Me-Len?”
“Yes, sweetie it does. They will always use dark magic against us and when they use it-it taints their minds allowing them to do terrible things. The magic we use is good, but they consider it weak. Why? I don’t know. We continually beat them with it, but they continue to try.” Me-Len shrugged her shoulders as she explained to London about the Blackwood Coven. “I’ve waited a long time to tell you about your magic and how it can help you and keep you safe too. When you were a child and just hit puberty your magic started to blossom. That is why you got stronger as you hit your teen years. You loved to practice martial arts and that is one of your powers.”
“What do you mean I can fight and that is one of my powers?” London questioned.
“You can fight with magic or without it as Jena found out at the dinner table. The Tree of Life is very powerful, London. It's probably the most powerful stone known to our kind. It has linked with you and absorbed your essences. You are now the keeper of it. Powers will come to you when you are in need of it. It will manifest within you and help when you are in danger. For example, when you felt the need to drop to the ground and the energy flew over your head. The Tree of Life protected you. I suspect that is the reason you start getting panic attacks. The energy is so strong and when you came to live with me it wanted to be with you. Power that is that strong can call to you and it seems that every time you got a panic attack it was because you were near it.” A knock at the door stopped Me-Len from explaining further.
Zoey poked her head inside. “Hey?”
“Hey you.” London answered.
“Can I come in or do you need more time with Me-Len?” Zoey asked.
“Come in, Zoey, you need to hear this too.” Me-Len waited until Zoey sat on the bed before she finished. “Now let me tell you both something. I want you to be extra careful because these witches are evil and they want the land here in Alpha City.” Zoey glanced back at London. She looked confused. Me-Len patted her hand. “I understand you are confused but London will explain it in a few. Just let me finish.” Me-Len cleared her throat before she proceeded.
“Each Alpha owns a parcel of land here. It was sold to the most powerful Alphas so they would protect Alpha City. It wasn’t coincidental that your grandfather was lead here. A spell was cast by the man well I should say the Elf, who sold them the land. He handpicked each Alpha to come to Alpha City. Somewhere on this land is a portal for the entrance to Valceria. The Elves moved that portal here a long time ago, but when the population of humans continued to grow, they knew it was just a matter of time before someone found it. He told the Alphas to pass it down to each Alpha in their family but to no one else. The only reason we know is that the Alpha’s understand that times have changed and so have the threats. If this area fell into the wrong hands…I fear what they would do.” Me-Len shivered from what she was talking about.
“The Blackwood’s are known to practice in the dark arts. Claudia Blackwood has always wanted power and will do anything to get it. Their first step is to get control of the wolf pack and that is the Malone Pack. They will kill until they have enough power to open that portal.”
“We have to warn everyone that it was Metilda and Jim Sanders. We can’t let …”
Me-Len stopped her. “London we don’t have the proof we need. I did the spell so we would know whom we were working against. It’s not the type of evidence that can be used when Metilda’s mother starts protesting. It’s magic, not real tangible evidence. We need solid proof. We need more,” Me-Len answered.
“Then I need to get it. I’ve got to go to the office.”
Me-Len watched as London started getting up. “But London…Ryder said for you to wait here until he returned.”
“I know but I think this is more important. We need the proof and with the program, I’m working on maybe we can get them on tape. Would that be enough proof?” London asked her grandmother, who looked concerned that London was leaving.
“Yeah I think it would but London, Ryder said to stay put. We know she has already tried to hurt you. Let’s not give her any excuses. Please for me. Can’t you and Zoey work from here?” London could see the worry expression on Me-Len’s face. She needed to work but she didn’t want her to worry either. Plus, she just started a relationship with Ryder and leaving would be too much for him to worry about.
London turned toward Zoey. “Are you okay? I’m sorry about Kenny.” She felt like a total douche bag now. Kenny was in Zoey’s pack. He was her friend and family. She hadn’t even checked on her. London hugged Zoey until she felt her relax some. She looked tired, but she knew Zoey would do what she needed to do to put Jim Sanders and Metilda Blackwood in jail. She wondered if they even had jails for shifters and witches who broke the law.
“Zoey, what do they do with shifters and witches who commit crimes? I would think they couldn’t put them in human jails for fear of them finding out.”
“We have shifter jails. Witches go to them too. They have wards and a coven that guards the witches. If not they would be coming up with spells so they could escape. The jails are constantly moved and nobody knows where they are located. The Sentinels are the ones who decide who goes to jail,” Zoey answered.
“Who are the Sentinels?” This was all new to London. She could sit and listen to more and more but time wasn’t on their side.
“The Sentinels are a group of shifters who can change into any type of animal. They are all Alpha’s and stronger than most shifters.” Zoey got up and paced the room. Apparently, talking about the Sentinels made her nervous for some reason. Chill bumps appeared on her arms. Who were these people if they scared Zoey like this?
“Zoey? Why are you scared talking about the Sentinels?”
Zoey stopped and dropped her hands. “I’m not scared but they make me nervous. When they are around you can feel their energy and it does do something to you. I can’t explain it, but you don’t want them around long. You can feel their power and it’s a lot stronger than ours is. They give off some type of energy, and hell I don’t know, but they make me nervous. That’s all. Hey let’s go and start the program.”
London decided to let the conversation drop for now but she was very interested in the Sentinels. They got up from the bed and went into the kitchen to get their laptops out.
Chapter 30
London was hard at work when Ryder found her in the kitchen at two in the morning. “Are you okay?” she asked softly.
“Yeah. She knew before I came in the door,” he whispered.
“Who?”
“June, Kenny’s new mate. She’s devastated. She said she felt something snap, and then she couldn’t feel him anymore. After his first mate and child died in the car crash, her sister came to the funeral. Kenny had never met her because she traveled a lot, but they both felt the connection right away. It took two years before he would accept her. If we hadn’t got him into treatment he wouldn’t have.” Ryder’s voice caught in his throat, “I’ve got to catch these fuckers.” He pounded his fist on the table, leaning forward with his head down. London got up and hugged him from behind, kissing his back as she snuggled closer.
“They had a pup. Now he’ll never know his father London. Never get to learn h
ow to…”
His words drifted off, leaving all of the various things that Kenny’s son would never learn from his father, unsaid. London tightened her arms around his waist. “Yes he will, because he’ll have you and the pack to get him through it. You and the pack will be there every step of his life. You’re his family too.”
“You feel good.” Ryder turned around pulling London to his chest. Grabbing the back of her hair, he tugged her head back, so he could look into her face.
“You will be there to help too,” Ryder’s said seriously. He was nervous. With everything that had happened he was scared that she’d changed her mind about him.
Staring into his eyes, she asked, “Is that what you want? I need to know now if you mean that. I’m falling in lo—”
Ryder interrupted her when he took her mouth franticly. “You're mine. Tell me to stop, or I’m making you mine. Tell me to stop or...” Ryder didn’t say anything else, and when she didn’t say the words, he picked her up and took her to his bedroom.
Softly, he laid her on the mattress. His wolf was suddenly very close to the surface in anticipation of claiming their mate. He knew the moment he saw her picture that London was his mate. How he ever thought he could stay away from her was crazy. He could see her love for him glowing in her eyes. It was hard for him to believe that she was going to be his.
“Take your pants off…slowly.”
London smiled but obeyed his command. She unbuttoned her pants and then started taking them off. Her eyes never left his as she pushed them to the floor.
“Take off your shirt and bra.” London got up and leaned back on her knees as she slowly took off her shirt and bra. He couldn’t stop the growl that zoomed out of his mouth. The moon was half full as the light glistened through the window onto her skin. Ryder continued to growl. His wolf was pushing him hard to claim their mate. He ripped his shirt open as buttons flew across the floor. He kicked his shoes off then jerked his pants down. His cock was hard as a rock and stood erect as he got on the bed.
